cAMP signaling can both promote and inhibit myogenic differentiation, but little is known about the mechanisms mediating promyogenic effects of cAMP. We previously demonstrated that the cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) transcriptional target salt-inducible kinase 1 (SIK1) promotes MEF2 activity in myocytes via phosphorylation of class II histone deacetylase proteins (HDACs). However...

A neuropeptide that directly inhibits gonadotropin secretion from the pituitary was discovered in quail and named gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH). The presence and functional roles of GnIH orthologs, RF-amide-related peptides (RFRP), that possess a common C-terminal LPXRF-amide (X = L or Q) motif have also been demonstrated in mammals. GnIH orthologs inhibit gonadotropin synthesis and re...

The glycoprotein hormones, ACTH, TSH, FSH, and LH regulate diverse functions in endocrine cells. Although cAMP and PKA have long been shown to mediate specific intracellular signaling events including the transcription of specific genes via the CREB-CBP complex, recent observations have indicated that PKA does not account for all of the intracellular targets of cAMP. For example, TSH stimulatio...

Intermittent parathyroid hormone administration (iPTH) increases bone mass and strength by stimulating osteoblast number and activity. PTH exerts its anabolic effects through cAMP/protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway in mature osteoblasts and osteocytes. Here, we show that inactivation of the p38α MAPK-encoding gene with the use of an osteocalcin-cre transgene prevents iPTH bone anabolic ac...

Abstract Chronic stress is an important factor to several physical and mental diseases. Ishige foliacea , edible brown seaweed, has various biological properties; however, its role in alleviating stress-induced depression remains unclear. Thus, the antidepressant-like effects of I. ethanolic extract (IE) were investigated using corticosterone (CORT)-treated HT22 cells CORT-induced depressive mi...

The Hippo tumor suppressor pathway plays an important role in tissue homeostasis that ensures development of functional organs at proper size. The YAP transcription coactivator is a major effector of the Hippo pathway and is phosphorylated and inactivated by the Hippo pathway kinases Lats1/2. It has recently been shown that YAP activity is regulated by G-protein-coupled receptor signaling. Here...

GHRH stimulates GH secretion from somatotroph cells of the anterior pituitary via a pathway that involves GHRH receptor activation of adenylyl cyclase and increased cAMP production. The actions of GHRH to release GH can be augmented by the synthetic GH secretagogues (GHS), which bind to a distinct G protein-coupled receptor to activate phospholipase C and increase production of the second messe...

Intermittent application of parathyroid hormone (PTH) has well established anabolic effects on bone mass in rodents and humans. Although transcriptional mechanisms responsible for these effects are not fully understood, it is recognized that transcriptional factor cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) mediates PTH signaling in osteoblasts, and that there is a communication between the PT...

Background: Survival of the conceptus is dependent on continuous progesterone signaling in the maternal decidua but how this is achieved under conditions of oxidative stress that characterize early pregnancy is unknown. Materials and Methods: Laboratory-based analysis of endometrial biopsies and primary endometrial cultures. Results: Using primary cultures, we show that modest levels of reactiv...